WYVERN ACADEMY
MORE THAN JUST A SCHOOL
PROSPECTUS
WYVERN ACADEMY - PROSPECTUS
Welcome to Wyvern Academy – helping young people fulfil their potential Wyvern Academy is a purpose-built school in Weymouth for children and young people aged from 2 to 19 with complex needs, including Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Our school, which moved into its new premises in 2006, is part of an educational campus that includes a mainstream primary and secondary school as well as a nursery/childcare provider. We provide an Early Years service, primary and secondary classes and a sixth form. The majority of pupils at Wyvern have substantial global developmental delay, emergent communication skills and are highly dependent. Some have additional disabilities including cerebral palsy, sensory impairment, autism and/or complex needs including challenging behaviour. Wyvern Academy is in partnership with Wey Valley School and Sports College and has a very positive relationship with St Nicholas and St Laurence School. The school is wellequipped with a gym hall, a hydrotherapy pool, interactive sensory and soft-play areas, outside playground areas and a vegetable plot. Classrooms are equipped with the latest computer technology, including tablet devices and communication aids.
“Wyvern has been brilliant for my son for 12 years; could not have done more or tried harder!” - Parent
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Structured education through the years At Wyvern Academy pupils get the best possible education for their age and ability. We have four departments from Early Years through to a thriving Sixth Form. Early Years – We focus on children learning through play, helping them to develop their communication and social skills. There are also opportunities for pupils to learn alongside their peers at our campus partners ‘St Nicks’ and at Scallywags nursery. Primary Years – As well as the development of communication and social skills we concentrate on developing basic literacy and numeracy skills, providing a rich and stimulating programme of study based on the National Curriculum. Educational targets are broken down into small steps enabling all children to learn and achieve. We endeavour to build strong links with our mainstream partners creating opportunities for children to work and play alongside their peers.
WYVERN WYVERNACADEMY ACADEMY--PROSPECTUS PROSPECTUS
“My son has progressed massively thanks to the hard work and dedication of the staff” - Parent Secondary Years – Our secondary education is geared to the individual strengths and abilities of each pupil. Young people are able to access specialist teaching from our partner secondary school. Dependent on individual strengths and abilities, subjects available include drama, art, dance, science and modern foreign languages. All students achieve nationally recognised qualifications including ASDAN Personal Progress and, where appropriate, entry level qualifications in English, Mathematics, Science and ICT. Sixth Form – Students are given the knowledge and skills needed to live fulfilling adult lives. They have opportunities to participate in enterprise learning which helps equip them for work situations along with developing life and independent living skills. Work experience and work-related learning forms a central part of the sixth form curriculum. All students continue to work towards recognised qualifications, including NVQ where appropriate, preparing them to move on to college or work.
“To provide a learning community which gives every young person the opportunity to develop their full potential in learning through our knowledge, care, commitment, friendship and the appreciation of every individual achievement.” - Our Vision
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Specialist support every day Every day at Wyvern Academy specialist help and systems are being used to ensure that each and every pupil gets the support and facilities that they need to enable them to learn. For pupils with communication difficulties the school uses signing, the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) and new technologies including iPads and eye-controlled communication systems. For children with autism as the primary need we use the TEACCH approach, developing a highly structured programme around pupils’ skills, interests and needs, including sensory integration. For children with profound learning difficulties, including additional mobility and medical requirements, the curriculum is tailored to meet individual needs with the use of physical and sensory programmes to allow pupils to make the best progress possible. We take a holistic approach to the education of children at Wyvern and in recognition of this we offer additional services which include:
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Working in partnership with Regard for Children to provide Saturday and holiday clubs for disabled children in the local area. They also provide residential short breaks for children to stay overnight.
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Working as part of a team with therapists to offer high-quality speech and language, OT and physiotherapy support for pupils who require these services. Wyvern is a centre of excellence for the MOVE teaching programme that helps physically disabled children gain more freedom of movement, a pre-requisite for effective cognitive development and learning. MOVE teaches children with severe physical disabilities actions such as sitting in an upright position, standing, walking.
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Giving pupils a voice At Wyvern Academy the pupils are given the chance to make their views known through our School Council, Annual Reviews, Pupil Survey and Campus Council. Issues discussed include outside play equipment, activities with our campus schools and ideas for school meals. Pupil voice is also key in our approach to behaviour management. We try to ensure that behaviour plans are discussed with children, that they understand what actions will be taken in specific circumstances and they have the opportunity to communicate their thoughts in relation to the proposed management strategies. By having the opportunity to voice their feelings and opinions in a variety of different forums they feel part of the decision making process that goes on both within school and beyond. Pupils have participated in the recruitment of key staff in the school, they generate ideas for curriculum events, such as a campus summit on anti-bullying which resulted in the creation of a Campus anti-bullying charter.
“The staff at Wyvern work really hard to ensure that my child reaches his full potential and the level of independence he is capable of � - Parent
“To be ‘more than just a school’, committed to making a difference to the lives of young people and their families by valuing and respecting everyone as individuals and as part of an inclusive society.” Our Mission
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The Aspect Trust – Our community Wyvern is a key partner of a co-operative trust, along with Wey Valley School and Sports College, formed in September 2009. The trust was set up in conjunction with the Co-operative College, part of the Co-operative movement. The College is dedicated to the promotion of co-operative values, ideas and principles within co-operatives, communities and society. It means the pupils at Wyvern Academy are part of an inclusive 0-19 aged community campus integrating children and young people from the widest range of learning difficulties to the most gifted, including college and HE progression pathways. Being part of the Aspect Trust improves educational standards for all learners, especially in English and Maths. It also raises the aspirations and expectations of young people, staff, the wider community and Trust Partners. The Trust ethos is that every child genuinely does matter, works co-operatively, and will be inspired to achieve.
Phone Number: 01305 817917 Fax number: 01305 814035 Email: office@wyvern.dorset.sch.uk
www.wyvern.dorset.sch.uk
Wyvern Academy, Dorchester Road Weymouth, Dorset, DT3 5AL
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